Drogba shifts landscape of African football forever

Hearing the name, Didier Drogba will put a smile on any longstanding Chelsea fan.

His breakthrough into English football on 20th July 2004 from Marseille for £24 million, changed the landscape for both Chelsea FC but African football in general.

The former Ivory Coast international who won African footballer of the year twice in the years 2006 and 2009 as well as Ivory Coast player of the year in 2007, 2008 and 2013, has had an illustrious career. However, although he made his career in west London, the 39-year-old is still as fit as a fiddle playing for Phoenix Rising FC in the United States.

On such a momentous day in Chelsea FC history, it is customary to validate and reminisce the excellence of the Drogba’s deft touch. Just as an example, in the 2009/10 Premier League season he had 32 appearances and scored 29 times, the same year he won his 3rd Premier League title with the Blues. Additionally, another statistic to tempt your Drogba memory is him scoring 6 goals in 8 UCL appearances when Chelsea won the continental trophy in 2012. Proving how pivotal his role was in the squad with many hoping he will come back to coach younger Blues post-playing career.

It’s hard to hate the humble Ivory Coast man who has now boosted the grassroots level football in his home country. Giving opportunities to youngsters across the breadth of the country as well as the continent, with many European clubs holding a healthy percentage of African footballing talent.

Valued only at half a million euros nowadays, the once desired and sought-after Chelsea centre forward will always have a soft spot for any English football supporter. He did so much for the game to modernise the sport and for this reason, for years to come we will commemorate the day he joined the Blues in 2004.